binman

The rain was sheeting down at that point. It was still drizzly when in the last he clunked the slippery pill on the lead and held despite the push that gave him 50 (and a goal). But i guess that doesn't suit the narrative some 'fans' prefer. For the record he took 3 marks, as many as Jamar and Howe and more than Dawes, Garland and Tyson (who had 0). He also laid 4 tackles, the same number of tackles as Cross and more than half the team including fellow forwards Dawes and Hogan edit: i was supporting your comments Bossdog not disagreeing

You didn't answer my question Last time i looked Wayne Carey wasn't a dees fan. Watts is by far our leading score involvement player. By far. In simple terms we are more likely to score and therefore win with him in the side. Roos knows this and this why he ris in the team. If people don't understand this then they don't understand football.

Ok, then my eyes must be deceiving me. But of course you're must be right. By the by is RPFC correct in suggesting you are Ben Hur/Hannibal? If so it would explain alot

I was at the game and i watched him closely. Your comment is completely untrue

By the by how great is it playing a Friday game. Some nice cold coopers and a walk to the ground

You're talking about eattsy. Some people just can't see his special gifts

Not sure but am i right in thinking it is now an open park?

Great Samael. I think it was it your impassioned plae and clear eyed statement of this impressive stats in recnt games that got him over the line. Convinced me anyway. Not being too dramatic i hope but big moment in the young blokes life. If he plays well might be the last time he ever plays at casey. I hope he starts on the ground (i expect he will) and plays a blinder. For what its worth (not much i know) i really rate him. Are you going?

Sameal must be pleases

No they don't. As a restricted free agent they make an offer and we can match it, or not. I guess if we match it he could still say he wanted out in which case I guess the club might trade. Though that doesn't seem logical. I'm not sure if he goes as a restricted free agent if we get a priority pick

And our in whilst inexperienced in terms of afl games is not a youngun and is a strong little bugger

That's a fascinating stat and one that gives me alot of confidence. When is the last time we played a top 8 team (from last year) and had more experience?

To nail my colors to the mast, lest i be accused of calling for his head and then being bagged after he stars against the tiges i do not think Dawes should be dropped. That said i'd drop him before dropping Watts

Why? Are you hoping we lose? We scored 55 points last game. Watts directly created 3 goals with assist, so a third our score and was involved in 2 other goals. And you want him dropped. What about Dawes? No goal assists, few meaningful plays and it would be more of a shock him marking a ball than dropping one

Retraction accepted. But in future it is your honor. Never mr

With all due respect Hemmingay the term Watts bashing is not hyberbole. It is reality here on DL and has been since the beginning of his career.

I'm another who agrees. For context Watts had 3 tackles against the crows (all good strong tackles by the way). That's more than 8 other players including McDonald, Howe, Kent and Hogan (who had 0 tackles).

Just saw that footage again. He didn't duck his head. He just dropped an easy mark (albeit a wet ball). Yes it cost us a goal at a goal. As did Kent who made a bone headed error in trying to kick the ball off the ground rather than pick it up or dive on it. Cost a goal at a critical time (3rd q). Game over

Tabasco?

Didn't know where to put this as i forgot to post it after our round one win. Figured this as good a place as any. Watts was rightfully praised for his tap down to Gartlett to set up a goal but there was an even better bit of play that also set up another goal for Gartlett, the one he got after getting the ball in the middle of the ground and kicking from outside 50. At the ground i couldn't work out how the ball had got out to Gartlett. I thought Frost might have knocked it out but thought it was just a lucky bobble of the ball. So i looked for it when i watched the replay. I had to watch it a few times to work out it was Watts who flipped the ball out of the pack to a running Gartlett. Brilliant stuff and so deft i don't recall a single comment about it on DL or in the press (or indeed the commentator, Anthony Hudson). Interestingly he took what some might say was the soft option as he could have elected to attack the ball and grab it, but would have been immediately tackled and was heading away from goals. Anyway brilliant bit of work. 1.33 of the following clip: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2015-04-05/rd-1-watch-all-the-goals

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/talking-point-do-we-overreact-when-it-comes-to-afl-players-ducking-20150421-1mplnf.html

This perfectly sums up for me the dichotomy of views on jack and the tendency for confirmation bias from his critics. Luckily handed it off? Please. It was a brilliant bit of play that resulted in a GOAL, one of only a handful on the day. Yet some dees fans would have preffered he out muscle his opponent and cleanly snag the greasy wet ball. And if he had failed to do so would have used it as yet another example of his weaknesses.

Yes fair points. But i'd much rather have Watts than Dawes, even with Dawes greater intensity and pack crashing ability. Dawes had a great pre season. His best for years he reckons. He had his game back to get into the swing of things. Yes the weather didn't suit but he took no pack marks at all and as far as i can recall not one goal assist or score involvement. And i bet Watts had more contested possessions and tackles (i hope im right). He also gets up and down the ground whereas Dawes lumbers and has a turning circle of the QE. I reckon Watts ticks more of your boxes than Dawes, indeed i reckon he ticks them all

I do too. And whilst Deespicables post is well reasoned'i think it is wrong on at least one count - and a crucial one at that. From dees post: 'It has everything to do with the fact that once the errors were made (and every player makes errors) that he didn't get mega-aggressive and try to make amends. He internalised and went back into his shell even more' I disagree. I thought he def came out after quarter time fiercer. He laid a couple of really god tackles and committed to the ball. This is reflected in the stats that Bossdog posted that showed many of his possessions were contested. As is his norm he also was involved in a number of our goals and in a low scoring game this involvement was crucial. Roos said as much (though people tend to disregard his positive comments about Watts - what would he know?) Yes his dropped mark costs us a goal and momentum but i don't reckon he dropped it because he was worried about getting hit. He just dropped it. I'll concede there was another two marking contests where he didn't go when he should have. I reckon it is an instinct thing and related to basketball, where he is looking for the ball to spill. Anyway not great but as i say he he was pretty aggressive in other contests and without looking at the stats is suspect he had more hard ball gets and tackles than a few of his less scrutinised team mates.

Agreed. I would love to have the sound off but find it funny without the crowd and game noise. Wouldn't it be great to have a crowd/game noise on, commentator noise off function